Wang Xiangzhai (1886-1963), also known as Nibao,
Zhenghe or Yuseng (Monk of Universe) was one of the
best students of Guo Yunshen (Kuo Yun Shen), famous master of
xingyiquan (hsing-i ch'uan). Probably only Wang Xiangzhai learned all
the secrets of Guo Yunshen's zhan zhuang exercises, which exercises
became later the most characteristic element of yiquan.

In 1907 Wang left home, and looking after job, finally joined army. At the
beginning he was just a helper in kitchen. But when one of officers discovered
how skilled he was in combat, he was appointed as martial art instructor. In
1913 he became famous for defeating Li Ruidong, founder of
Li style taijiquan, who was instructor of president's guards. In
the same year Wang became chief of Department of Unarmed Combat of Land
Forces. He appointed as other instructors such famous masters from
xingyi/bagua circle as: Sun Lutang (master of
xingyiquan and baguazhang, founder of Sun style
taijiquan), Shang Yunxiang (founder of Shang
style xingyiquan), Liu Wenhua (son of Liu
Qilan, who together with Guo Yunshen was student of
Li Luoneng).

In 1915 Wang defeated Zhou Ziyan, master of
praying mantis style, who then became Wang's student.

In 1918, because of political changes, Department of Unarmed
Combat of Land Army suspended working. Wang went to the South to search after
greatest masters of martial arts. First he went to Shaolin Temple, where
he learned xinyiba (a system related to xingyiquan) from monk
Henglin (also known as Changlin or Xianglin - later Doshin So,
founder of Shorinji Kempo, learned from the same monk). In Hubei
province Wang learned from excentric master Jie Tiefu. In Fujian
province he was again appointed as martial art instructor in this province's
army. At that time he met masters of southern white crane style -
Fang Qiazhuang and Jin Shaofeng. Coming back north he met famous
master of xinyi - Huang Muqiao, from whom he learned "health
dance". In Xi'an he met famous for his quick kicks master Liu
Peixian. He learned also baguazhang from Liu Fengchun and met
taijiquan masters Yang Shaohou and Yang Chengfu. Those are
only some of the masters from whom Wang learned or with whom he exchanged
experiences.

About 1925, while teaching xingyiquan, Wang noticed that his
students were putting too much attention to outer form, determined set of
techniques, and too little to mental aspect. So he started using more widely
zhan zhuang exercises and other training methods similiar to those presently
used in yiquan/dachengquan, and less stress putting on practice of forms. He
changed name of the system to yiquan, discarding the element xing
(form). History of the new system started from this point. First student of
yiquan in Beijing was Qi Zhidu. In Tianjin
joined: Zhao Enqing (Zhao Daoxin - winner of
free fighting tournament at Third All China Sports Competition;
also famous for defeating Norway boxer Andersen, having
uncomfortable slippers on his feet; founder of xinhuizhang version,
based greatly on baguazhang), Gu Xiaochi, Ma
Qichang, Deng Zhisong, Miao Chunyu,
Zhang Zonghui, Zhang Entong (later, in 1950s
he defeated Chinese heavy weight wrestling champion Zhang Kuiyuan,
who after this started studying yiquan), Qiu Zhihe,
Zhao Fengyao, Zhao Zuoyao.

In
1928, together with his student Zhao Enqing and xingyiquan
master from Tianjin - Zhang Zhankui Wang went
to Hangzhou, where he was referee at free fighting tournament
at Third All China Sports Competition and also demonstrated
training methods of yiquan. His student Zhao Enqing (later known as
Zhao Daoxin) won the tournament. Then Wang was invited to
Shanghai, where he founded Yiquan Society. After Wang's fight
with boxing world champion, Hungarian Inge (later relation of this fight was
published in London "Times") yiquan became quite well known. Those who
became Wang's students in this period were: You Pengxi (founder
of kong jin version; at older age emigrated to USA,
where he taught in California and died in 1983), Gao
Zhendong, Zhu Guolu, Zhu Guozhen,
Bu Enfu (Chinese champion of boxing and shuai-jiao
wrestling), Zhang Changxin (winner of boxing tournament in
Shanghai), Zhang Changyi, brothers Han Xingqiao
and Han Xingyuan, Wang Shuhe, Ma
Jianzhao, Ning Dachun.

Han
Xingqiao, Zhao Daoxin, Zhang Changxin
and Gao Zhendong became famous in Shanghai as "four
diamond warriors". Wang wrote first yiquan treatise: "Correct path
of yiquan". At that time Wang Xiangzhai's yiquan was already
quite different from what was taught by other xingyiquan masters.
Wang in his work criticizes some concepts popular in xingyiquan
circles, but many of his ideas were still based on traditional concepts,
which he gave up in later years. In some xingyiquan sources term
"natural school" of xingyiquan is used regarding Wang's teachings
of Shanghai period.

One of Shangai bankers proposed that Wang organized a team which would go for a
world tournee to demonstrate power of chinese martial art. But soon political
perturbances caused some problems and the banker gave up this idea. During stay
in Shanghai Wang met Wu Yihui - master of liuhebafa,
whom he described as one of the three greatest masters he met during his travels
all over China (two other were Jie Tiefu and Fang
Qiazhuang, mentioned already above).

In 1935 Wang Xiangzhai, together with his
students Bu Enfu, Zhang Entong, Zhang
Changxin and Han Xingqiao moved to Wang's home
prefecture Shen. There they concentrated on training and
studies on martial art theory. Most training methods used presently in yiquan
were developed and perfected at that time. It was proved that with these methods
students were making much faster progress.

In 1937 Wang moved to Beijing. He taught
yiquan and worked further on theory of the system. Hong Lianshun,
master of xingyiquan and tantui was quite famous in Beijing at
that time. When Hong heard about Wang's incredible skill he came to challenge
him. After being defeated Hong became Wang's student and also his students he
passed to Wang. Among them was Yao Zongxun (1917-1985), who
later became Wang's successor. Other Wang's students from Beijing period were:
Dou Shiming (who once with one punch defeated Gao Yanwang,
general Fu Shuangying's bodyguard), Dou Shicheng, Li
Yongzong, Yang Demao, Zhang Zhong,
Zhang Fu, Wang Binkui, Yang Shaoqing,
Li Wentao, Li Jianyu, Wang Shichuan,
Jiao Jingang, Ao Shuopeng, Ao Shuohong,
Tong Guocao.

In 1939 Wang published in "Shibao" paper a text in
which he invited all masters of martial arts to exchange experiences and ideas.
The comers usually wanted to compare their skills with Wang. Wang had chosen
four students who fought instead of him: Han Xingqiao,
Hong Lianshun, Yao Zongxun and Zhou Ziyan.
Only after defeating one of them the comer would fight with Wang, but no-one
succeeded.

In 1940 in Tokio took place a big festival
of martial arts in which also Chinese team participated. Some Chinese masters
collaborating with Japanese went there. The chief of the team tried to persuade
Wang Xiangzhai, whom he regarded as greatest master, to participate. Wang
refused. But because during the festival, the Chinese talked a lot about Wang
Xiangzhai, soon many Japanese started coming to Beijing to visit Wang. Many of
them challenged Wang, and all were defeated. Many of them wanted become Wang's
students, but only one was accepted - it was Kenichi Sawai, who
later created his version of yiquan, known in Japan as taiki-ken (Sawai
was one of most famous masters of martial arts in Japan, he was consultant of
Masutatsu Oyama, founder of kyokushin karate). Though
Sawai was Wang's student, usually he learned from Yao Zongxun.

In 1941 Wang presented his six best students with honorary
names, in this way expressing his high opinion about their skills and abilities.
Zhao Enqing received name Daoxin, Han
Xingqiao - Daokuan, Bu Enfu -
Daokui, Zhang Entong - Daode,
Zhao Fengyao - Daohong. Yao Zongxun,
though younger and learning yiquan for shorter time than other, showed
incredible learning abilities and received name Jixiang,
meaning that he was Wang Xiangzhai's successor (ji - to continue,
xiang - part of Wang Xiangzhai's name). Wang also presented Yao a fan with
calligraphy which is clear evidence that Yao was designed as Wang's main
successor.

The fan presented by Wang Xiangzhai
to Yao Zongxun

Yao Zongxun proved his skill in many fights, often fighting
instead of Wang Xiangzhai when someone challenged him. In 1940s he also many
times fought with street gangs, numerous at that time in Beijing. In this way he
got much experience in real combat.

Yiquan was already a system completely separate from
xingyiquan. Wang's students suggested a new name: dachengquan
(boxing of great fullness). Wang opposed, because the name suggested that it was
perfect system, and he maintained that there was no limit for perfecting martial
art. But because his resistance wasn't strong enough, the name was used for a
few years and by some is used till now. But most of Wang's students after some
time started using the name of yiquan again.

Wang wrote second work about his system's theory:
"Central axis of the way of fist", which is also known as "Theory of
dachengquan". It was to some extent based on first book: "Correct path
of yiquan". But Wang gave up completely many traditional ideas. Training
methods were based on different concepts. New methods enabled achieving the same
or better results easier and in shorter time.

Wang at that time taught personally only his old students,
directing all newcomers to Yao Zongxun. In middle 1940s Wang
started putting more attention to health aspect of yiquan exercises. He taught
personally the "health" group. Some of students of this group were:
Chen Haiting, Qin Zhongsan, Yu
Yongnian, Bu Yukun, Mi Jingke,
Sun Wenqing, Zhang Yuheng, Qi Zhenglin
and Wang Xiangzhai's daughter - Wang Yufang. In 1947 this
group, which practiced in Ancestors Temple (which presently is
Working People's Palace of Culture) had about 100 members. Many
of them were able to cure some illnessess that couldn't be cured in other way.
Therapeutical efficiency and lack of side-effects of these exercises was later
proved scientifically.

After 1949 the
situation was not favourable for practicing yiquan as a combat art. Though in
1950 Wang was appointed as vice-president of wushu section of
All-China Physical Culture Comittee, he soon gave it up. In next years
he taught almost entirely the "health" version. The "health" group moved to
Sun Yatsen's Park and could practice freely. Yu
Yongnian presented to authorities a report about therapeutical values
of zhan zhuang exercises, which resulted in introducing this method in
many hospitals all over China. Also Wang Xiangzhai was asked to teach in
hospitals. In 1958 he was appointed in Beijing Chinese Medicine Research
Institute. In 1961 he moved to Chinese Medicine Hospital
in Baoding, Hebei province. Wang turned the
"health" group to Yao Zongxun, who also taught "combat" version to some chosen
students. In 1962 Wang participated in qigong conference, where he
performed some exercises, which were met with great interest. He died on 12th
July 1963 in Tianjin.

Wang Xiangzhai
(in long coat)
with students

While the "health" version could be practiced freely, development of the
"combat" system met many obstacles. It was practiced only in very small circles.
The period of Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) was particularly
difficult. Yao Zongxun with family was sent to work in the
country. Even in this extremely unfavorable period he continued practicing and
teaching his sons - twin brothers Yao Chengguang and
Yao Chengrong. In late 1970s Yao came back to Beijing and in more
favourable atmosphere started to propagate yiquan extensively. He also worked
with scientists on adapting yiquan training methods for various sport
disciplines. In 1984 he created Beijing Yiquan Research Association,
and became it' first president.

Presently yiquan can freely develop in China and is gradually becoming one
of most popular of chinese martial arts. Yao Zongxun's sons
- Yao Chengguang (president of Yiquan Association,
taught in Hong Kong and Japan, has
students in Poland) and Yao Chengrong (vice-president and
vice-secretary of Yiquan Association, together with brother taught in Hong
Kong and Japan) are continuing work of developing and popularizing yiquan.
In Beijing also other Yao Zongxun's students are active:
Bo Jiacong (head of board of control of Yiquan Association,
has students in Japan), Cui Ruibin
(vice-president of Yiquan Association, taught in
England and Sweden), Liu Pulei
(member of board of Chinese Wushu Association,
vice-president of Yiquan Association, has students in
Malaysia).

Yao Chengguang
and Yao Chengrong brothers
with father

Young Yao
Chengguang
with father

Yiquan is taught as an art of real combat, but competitions in tui shou
(pushing hands) and san shou (free fighting) are being organized
too.

Apart from full
system of yiquan, the "health" version is also very popular. Some of most
famous experts of this version are: Yu Yongnian, Wang Yufang
(Wang Xiangzhai's daughter) and Sun Changyou (Yao Zongxun's student).

Yiquan is known in Hong Kong,
Japan (students of taiki-ken founder Kenichi
Sawai, who died in 1989, come to China to learn yiquan from
among other Yao Chengguang), Malaysia,
Argentina, UK, France, Italy,
Sweden, Finland and in Poland, Hungary
and Czech Republic (Andrzej Kalisz's students).